PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No.

533 THE ANTI-CATTLE RUSTLING LAW OF 1974

Approved: August 8, 1974

Section 2. Definition of terms.

The following terms shall mean and be understood to be as herein defined: a. Large cattle as herein used shall include the cow, carabao, horse, mule, ass, or other domesticated member of the bovine family.

b. Owner/raiser shall include the herdsman, caretaker, employee or tenant of any firm or entity engaged in the raising of large cattle or other persons in lawful possession of such large cattle.

c. Cattle rustling is the taking away by any means, method or scheme, without the consent of the owner/raiser, of any of the abovementioned animals whether or not for profit or gain, or whether committed with or without violence against or intimidation of any person or force upon things. It includes the killing of large cattle, or taking its meat or hide without the consent of the owner/raiser

Section 3. Duty of owner/raiser to register. The owner/raiser shall, before the large cattle belonging to him shall attain the age of six months, register the same with the office of the city/municipal treasurer where such large cattle are raised. The city/municipality concerned may impose and collect the fees authorized by existing laws for such registration and the issuance of a certificate of ownership to the owner/raiser.

Section 5. Permit to buy and sell large cattle. No person, partnership, association, corporation or entity shall engage in the business of buy and sell of large cattle without first securing a permit for the said purpose from the Provincial Commander of the province where it shall conduct such business and the city/municipal treasurer of the place of residence of such person, partnership, association, corporation or entity. The permit shall only be valid in such province.

Section 6. Clearance for shipment of large cattle. Any person, partnership, association, corporation or entity desiring to ship or transport large cattle, its hides, or meat, from one province to another shall secure a permit for such purpose from the Provincial Commander of the province where the large cattle is registered. Before issuance of the permit herein prescribed, the Provincial Commander shall require the submission of the certificate of ownership as prescribed in Section 3 hereof, a certification from the Provincial Veterinarian to the effect that such large cattle, hides or meat are free from any disease; and such other documents or records as may be necessary. Shipment of large cattle, its hides or meat from one city/municipality to another within the same province may be done upon securing permit from the city/municipal treasurer of the place of origin.

Section 7. Presumption of cattle rustling. Every person having in his possession, control or custody of large cattle shall, upon demand by competent authorities, exhibit the documents prescribed in the preceding sections. Failure to exhibit the required documents shall be prima facie evidence that the large cattle in his possession, control or custody are the fruits of the crime of cattle rustling.

Section 8. Penal provisions. Any person convicted of cattle rustling as herein defined shall, irrespective of the value of the large cattle involved, be punished by prision mayor in its maximum period to reclusion temporal in its medium period if the offense is committed without violence against or intimidation of persons or force upon things. If the offense is committed with violence against or intimidation of persons or force upon things, the penalty of reclusion temporal in its maximum period to reclusion perpetua shall be imposed. If a person is seriously injured or killed as a result or on the occasion of the commission of cattle rustling, the penalty of reclusion perpetua to death shall be imposed.

When the offender is a government official or employee, he shall, in addition to the foregoing penalty, be disqualified from voting or being voted upon in any election/referendum and from holding any public office or employment.
When the offender is an alien, he shall be deported immediately upon the completion of the service of his sentence without further proceedings.

The End
Good Day !!
Atty. Noel Francis L. Gealan, MPA Attorney V NAPOLCOM Provincial Officer Davao del Norte NAPOLCOM REGIONAL OFFICE NO. XI